Electrical interconnect system

ABSTRACT

An electrical interconnect system includes a circuit terminal member having a plurality of contact posts extending therefrom. An electrical connector for attaching to said terminal includes first and second plates which are movable to first and second positions thereby engaging or disengaging contact members extending from said plates and said contact posts of said terminal member.

United States Patent lnventor Jack B. Hartley Dallas, Tex.

Appl. No. 51,480

Filed July 1, 1970 Patented Dec. 21, 1971 Assignee Collins Radio Company Dallas, Tex.-

ELECTRICAL INTERCONNECT SYSTEM 11 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs;

U.S. C1 339/18 B, 317/99, 339/75 M Int. Cl "011' 25/00, H02b 2/04 Field of Search 324/73, 158

F;3l7/99, 101 DH; 339/18 R, 18 B, 17 R, 17 L, 17 LM,17 M, 149 P, 150 R, 150T, 157 R, 157 T, 177,176 R, 176 M, 34, 75 M,45 M, 45 R [561 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,483,339 12/1969 Friend 339/18 B X 3,083,274 3/1963 Sparkes 339/45 M X 3,315,212 4/1967 Peterson... 339/176M X 3,165,674 l/1965 Swan 339/174X Primary ExaminerMarvin A. Champion Assistant ExaminerTerrell 1. Lewis Att0rneys1-lenry 1K. Woodward and Robert J. Crawford ABSTRACT: An electrical interconnect system includes a circuit terminal member having a plurality of contact posts extending therefrom. An electrical connector for attaching to said terminal includes first and second plates which are movable to first and second positions thereby engaging or disengaging contact members extending from said plates and said contact posts of said terminal member.

SHEET 3 a In qp 1D Q ++++++++QD L LL Lggku u) {JJ/JJJT 24 24 HARTLEY ATTORNEY ll ELECTRICAL INTERCONNECT SYSTEM This invention relates generally to electrical circuits, and more particularly to an electrical interconnection system and a multiple contact electrical connector which may be easily attached to terminal posts of an electrical terminal.

Many electrical systems today comprise a modular arrangement of electrical subsystems all of which plug into or are otherwise electrically attached to a common base member which provides system interconnect. For test purposes and other reasons such base members are usually provided with a grid of projecting electrical contact posts to which interconnection may be made for testing various portions of the system or attaching auxiliary equipments. Typically, the interconnections are made by use of individual clips which are cumbersome and time consuming to apply and, because of the number of contact posts, often incorrectly connected.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is a multiple contact electrical connector which is readily attached to a terminal.

Another object of the invention is a multiple contact electrical connector which minimizes error in making contact to a terminal. 7

Still another object of the invention is an electrical interconnection system whereby auxiliary equipments may be readily connected to and disconnected from an electrical system.

Features of the invention include, with a terminal member having a plurality of electrical posts extending therefrom and arranged in a definite pattern, a connector including at least two contact plates each having electrical contacts extending therefrom and arranged in a cooperative pattern with portions of said terminal posts. The two plates are moveably supported whereby the plate contacts may be moved into pressure engagement with the terminal posts for attaching said connector to said terminal, and whereby the plate contacts may be released from the pressure engagement with the base plate posts thereby detaching said connector from said terminal.

These and other objects and features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description and appended claims when taken with the drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view ofa terminal member including a plurality of extending contact posts;

FIG. 2 is a plan view taken of the back of a connector in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view similar to the view of FIG. 2 wherein the connector is in a position for engagement with a terminal;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the connector shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 taken from the front of said connector;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the connector shown in FIGS. 24 and illustrates a preferred configuration for the connector contacts;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the connector shown in FIGS. 2-5 attached to the terminal base plate shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the back of another connector in ac cordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the back of the connector shown in FIG. 7 with the connector in position for engagement with a terminal base plate; and

FIG. 9 is a top view of the connector shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a terminal member commonly employed for interconnection of an electrical system. The body 10 comprises an insulating plastic or other suitable material through which are mounted an array of contact posts 12. Contact posts 12 extend from a major face 14 and, while only a portion of the contact posts are illustrated in the view, the posts are arranged in a pattern of rows and columns indicated generally by the vertical and horizontal lines. Attached to the contact posts on the face hidden from view may be a plurality of plug-in circuit boards and/or a hand-wired electrical interconnection system. The posts 12 extending from the face 14 are provided for performing tests on portions of the electrical system and connecting auxiliary equipment to the system.

Heretofore, it has been conventional practice to use individual clips for making electrical connection to the contact posts 12 on the terminal base plate. Such clips are cumbersome to handle and time consuming to correctly connect to the proper terminals.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the back of an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention which facilitates the connection of equipment to a terminal member such as illustrated in FIG. I. The connector comprises at least two nonconducting, contact plates 20 and 22 with a plurality of contact members 24 extending through said plates and arranged cooperatively with the pattern of contact posts of the terminal member. Support guides 36 and 28 slideably support the two contact plates whereby the two plates may be slideably moved to and from each other.

At either end of the connector and rotatably supported by support members 26 and 28 are two rods 30 and 32 which provide camming means for moving the plates 20 and 22 in juxtaposition. Levers 34 and 36 are attached to the rods 30 and 32 for rotating the cam means. Attached to rod 30 and plate 20 are two spring members 38 and 40), and attached to rod 32 and 22 are a pair of spring members 42 and 44. The spring members 38, 40, 42, and 44 yieldably bias the two plates 20 and 22 away from each other as shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, which is a plan view of the back of the connector shown in FIG. 2, when levers 34 and 36 are rotated cam members 46 and 48 on rod members 30 and 32, respectively, push the two plate members 20 and 22 injuxtaposition. In this position the connector may be attached to a terminal member, as will be described further below.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the front of the connector shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and illustrates the portions of contacts 24 which provide electrical and physical engagement with the electrical posts of the terminal member. As better seen in the top view of the connector shown in FIG. 5, the engaging portions of the contacts 24 preferably have a curved configuration to facilitate pressure engagement with the contact posts of the terminal member.

When the contact plates 20 and 22 are in the first position shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and S, the connector may be easily positioned adjacent to a terminal base member with the contacts 24 adjacent desired contact posts of the terminal in accordance with the pattern of the post members and the contact members. When the cam means slides the two connector plates 20 and 22 in juxtaposition, as shown in FIG. 3, the contacts 24 contact the posts of the terminal member. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the connector in engagement with he terminal member I0 and shows the engagement of the connector contacts 24 and the terminal posts 12. Preferably for alignment purposes, the bottom support member 26 of the connector may physically rest on the bottom, protruding portion of terminal member 10.

It will be appreciated that plate 20 may be immovably attached to support members 26 and 28 with a cam means provided for moving only plate 22 relative to the plate 20. Sufficient movement must be provided, however, to enable the contacts 24 to move into and out of pressure engagement with the terminal posts 12 of the terminal member I0.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the lack of a connector in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment the cam means 60 is :rotatably supported by support members 62 and 64 between the two connector plates 66 and 68. Cam means 60 comprises a generally rectangular bar 70 which is rotated between the two plates 66 and 68 by means of lever 72. Spring means 74 and 76 yieldably bias the two plates 66 and 68 in an inwardly direction so that when cam means 60 is rotated the two plates move inwardly towards each other as shown in FIG. 8. Thus, in this embodiment the connector will be in the position shown in FIG. 8 when aligning with the terminal member, and cam means 60 is then rotated to the position shown in FIG. 7 thereby engaging the contacts on the connector with the posts of the terminal member. It will be noted in the top view shown in FIG. 9, that the connector contacts 78 have a curved configuration with the contacts curving outwardly. In this embodiment the contacts move outwardly to engage the terminal posts, whereas in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 the connector contacts move inwardly to engage the terminal posts.

The interconnect system in accordance with the present invention has proved to be especially advantageous in expediting temporary connections between a multitude of contacts. While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, the description is illustrative and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Various modifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. An electrical connector for making contact with an electrical circuit terminal means including a plurality of contact posts arranged in a first pattern, said connector comprising at least two contact plates, a plurality of contact members extending from said plates and arranged cooperatively with said first pattern, means supporting said contact plates whereby one plate is slideably movable with respect to another plate, and means for slideably moving said one plate relative to said other plate to a first position wherein said contact members may be positioned adjacent to said contact posts and to a second position wherein said contact members engage said contact posts, said means for slideably moving comprising cam means positioned between said at least two plates and is rotatably supported by said support means, said cam means including lever means for rotating said means thereby moving said one plate relative to said other plate to said first and second positions.

2. An electrical connector as defined by claim 1 wherein said cam means includes a generally rectangular bar.

3. An electrical connector as defined by claim 2 wherein said cam means further includes spring means for yieldably biasing said plates to said first position.

4. An electrical connector as defined by claim 1 wherein said means' for slideably moving includes spring means for yieldably biasing said plates to said first position.

5. An electrical connector for making contact with an electrical circuit tenninal means including a plurality of contact posts arranged in a first pattern, said connector comprising at least two contact plates, a plurality of contact members extending from said plates and arranged cooperatively with said first pattern, means supporting said contact plates whereby one plate is slideably movable with respect to another plate, and means for slideably moving said one plate relative to said other plate to a first position wherein said contact members may be positioned adjacent to said contact posts and to a second position wherein said contact members engage said contact posts, said means for slideably moving including a first cam means positioned adjacent one edge of said one plate and is rotatably supported by said support means, and means for rotating said cam means thereby moving the opposite edge of said first plate intojuxtaposition with a first edge of said other plate.

6. An electrical connector as defined by claim 5 wherein said first cam means includes a rod rotatably mounted between said support means, a lever for rotating said rod, and a cam member extending from said rod.

7. An electrical connector as defined by claim 5 wherein said means for slideably moving includes a second cam means positioned adjacent the edge opposite said first edge of said other plate.

8. An electrical connector as defined by claim 7 wherein each of said first and second cam means includes a rod rotatably mounted between said support means, a.lever for rotating said rod, and a cam member extending from said rod.

9. An electrical interconnect system comprising circuit terminal means including a plurality of contact posts arranged in a first pattern, and an electrical connector for making contact with said circuit terminal means, said electrical connector comprising at least two contact lates, a plurality of contact members extending from said p ates and arranged cooperatively with said first pattern, means supporting said contact plates whereby one plate is slideably movable with respect to another plate, and means for slideably moving said one plate relative to said other plate to a first position wherein said contact members may be positioned adjacent to said contact posts and to a second position wherein said contact members engage said contact posts, said means for slideably moving comprising a cam means positioned between said at least two plates and is rotatably supported by said support means, said cam means including lever means for rotating said cam means thereby moving said one plate relative to said other plate to said first and second positions.

10. An electrical interconnect system comprising circuit terminal means including a plurality of contact posts arranged in a first pattern, and an electrical connector for making contact with said circuit terminal means, said electrical connector comprising at least two contact plates, a plurality of contact members extending from said plates and arranged cooperatively with said first pattern, means supporting said contact plates whereby on plate is slideably moving said one plate relative to said other plate to a first position wherein said contact members may be positioned adjacent to said contact posts and to a second position wherein said contact members engage said posts, said means for slideably moving including a first cam means positioned adjacent one edge of said one plate and is rotatably supported by said support means, and means for rotating said cam means thereby moving the opposite edge of said first plate into juxtaposition with a first edge of said other plate.

11. The combination defined by claim It) wherein said means for slideably moving includes a second cam means positioned adjacent the edge opposite said first edge of said other plate.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CRECTION PatentNo- 3u629.788 Datd December 2Lel97l inventofls) Jack B. Hartley It is certified that'error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line l3, delete "36" and substitute theref0r'--26-; line 47, after "member" insert --in pressure engagement thereby locking the connector to the terminal member-; line 48, delete "he and substitute 1 therefor --the--; line 60, delete "lack" and substitute therefor --back-; i column 3, line 29, after "said" insert "camsigned and sealed this 13th day of June 1972.,

(SEAL) Attest."

EDWARD MELETCHER JRe BERT GOTTSGHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-lOSO (10-69) USCoMM-DC 60376-1 69 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I959 O356'334 

1. An electrical connector for making contact with an electrical circuit terminal means including a plurality of contact posts arranged in a first pattern, said connector comprising at least two contact plates, a plurality of contact members extending from said plates and arranged cooperatively with said first pattern, means supporting said contact plates whereby one plate is slideably movable with respect to another plate, and means for slideably moving said one plate relative to said other plate to a first position wherein said contact members may be positioned adjacent to said contact posts and to a second position wherein said contact members engage said contact posts, said means for slideably moving comprising cam means positioned between said at least two plates and is rotatably supported by said support means, said cam means including lever means for rotating said means thereby moving said one plate relative to said other plate to said first and second positions.
 2. An electrical connector as defined by claim 1 wherein said cam means includes a generally rectangular bar.
 3. An electrical connector as defined by claim 2 wherein said cam means further includes spring means for yieldably biasing said plates to said first position.
 4. An electrical connector as defined by claim 1 wherein said means for slideably moving includes spring means for yieldably biasing said plates to said first position.
 5. An electrical connector for making contact with an electrical circuit terminal means including a plurality of contact posts arranged in a first pattern, said connector comprising at least two contact plates, a plurality of contact members extending from said plates and arranged cooperatively with said first pattern, means supporting said contact plates whereby one plate is slideably movable with respect to another plate, and means for slideably moving said one plate relative to said oTher plate to a first position wherein said contact members may be positioned adjacent to said contact posts and to a second position wherein said contact members engage said contact posts, said means for slideably moving including a first cam means positioned adjacent one edge of said one plate and is rotatably supported by said support means, and means for rotating said cam means thereby moving the opposite edge of said first plate into juxtaposition with a first edge of said other plate.
 6. An electrical connector as defined by claim 5 wherein said first cam means includes a rod rotatably mounted between said support means, a lever for rotating said rod, and a cam member extending from said rod.
 7. An electrical connector as defined by claim 5 wherein said means for slideably moving includes a second cam means positioned adjacent the edge opposite said first edge of said other plate.
 8. An electrical connector as defined by claim 7 wherein each of said first and second cam means includes a rod rotatably mounted between said support means, a lever for rotating said rod, and a cam member extending from said rod.
 9. An electrical interconnect system comprising circuit terminal means including a plurality of contact posts arranged in a first pattern, and an electrical connector for making contact with said circuit terminal means, said electrical connector comprising at least two contact plates, a plurality of contact members extending from said plates and arranged cooperatively with said first pattern, means supporting said contact plates whereby one plate is slideably movable with respect to another plate, and means for slideably moving said one plate relative to said other plate to a first position wherein said contact members may be positioned adjacent to said contact posts and to a second position wherein said contact members engage said contact posts, said means for slideably moving comprising a cam means positioned between said at least two plates and is rotatably supported by said support means, said cam means including lever means for rotating said cam means thereby moving said one plate relative to said other plate to said first and second positions.
 10. An electrical interconnect system comprising circuit terminal means including a plurality of contact posts arranged in a first pattern, and an electrical connector for making contact with said circuit terminal means, said electrical connector comprising at least two contact plates, a plurality of contact members extending from said plates and arranged cooperatively with said first pattern, means supporting said contact plates whereby on plate is slideably moving said one plate relative to said other plate to a first position wherein said contact members may be positioned adjacent to said contact posts and to a second position wherein said contact members engage said posts, said means for slideably moving including a first cam means positioned adjacent one edge of said one plate and is rotatably supported by said support means, and means for rotating said cam means thereby moving the opposite edge of said first plate into juxtaposition with a first edge of said other plate.
 11. The combination defined by claim 10 wherein said means for slideably moving includes a second cam means positioned adjacent the edge opposite said first edge of said other plate. 